How to Analyse a Poem
Poetry analysis can feel intimidating, but it does not have to be. With a clear method and some practice, you can write confident, insightful responses that score top marks. This guide introduces the SMILE method and shows you how to build perfect PEE paragraphs.
The SMILE Method
SMILE gives you five angles to explore when analysing any poem. You do not have to cover every single one in an exam answer, but thinking through all five helps you find the best points to write about.
Key Fact Box: SMILE
- S - Structure: How is the poem organised? Look at stanza lengths, line lengths, enjambment, caesura, rhyme scheme, and whether the structure changes. A sudden short line after long ones creates emphasis.
- M - Meaning: What is the poem actually about? What is the surface meaning, and what deeper message or theme is the poet exploring? Themes might include love, loss, power, conflict, identity or nature.
- I - Imagery: What pictures does the poet paint? Look for similes, metaphors, personification and symbolism. Imagery makes abstract ideas concrete and vivid.
- L - Language: What specific word choices stand out? Think about connotations, tone, register, repetition, alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia. Every word in a poem is chosen deliberately.
- E - Effect: What impact does the poem have on the reader? How does it make you feel? Why did the poet make these choices? This is where your personal response comes in, and examiners love to see it.
How to Identify Techniques
Read the poem at least twice before you start writing. On your first read, focus on meaning: what is happening? On your second read, start circling or underlining anything that stands out. Here are the most common techniques to look for:
- Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was like sunshine."
- Metaphor: A direct comparison without "like" or "as." Example: "He was a lion in battle."
- Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."
- Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the start of words. Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck."
- Enjambment: A sentence running over from one line to the next without punctuation, creating a sense of flow or urgency.
- Caesura: A pause in the middle of a line, often created by punctuation. It can show hesitation, a shift in thought, or dramatic emphasis.
- Sibilance: Repeated "s" sounds, often creating a sinister, soft or secretive tone.
Do not just name the technique. The marks come from explaining why the poet used it and what effect it creates.
PEE Paragraphs
PEE stands for Point, Evidence, Explain. It is the standard structure for analytical paragraphs in English Literature. Some teachers extend it to PEEL (adding Link) or PEEZ (adding Zoom), but the core remains the same.
- Point: Make a clear statement about the poem. "The poet uses violent imagery to convey the horror of war."
- Evidence: Quote directly from the poem. Keep quotes short: a phrase or single line is usually enough. "This is shown in the phrase 'the blood-red sky tore open.'"
- Explain: Analyse the quote in detail. What technique is being used? What are the connotations of key words? What effect does it have on the reader? "The verb 'tore' suggests destruction and aggression, while the compound adjective 'blood-red' creates a visceral image that links the sky itself to violence, as if nature has been corrupted by human conflict."
Worked Example: Analysing a Line
Line: "The sea is a hungry dog, / Giant and grey."
Point: The poet uses an extended metaphor to present the sea as a dangerous, living force. Evidence: The sea is described as "a hungry dog, / Giant and grey." Explain: The metaphor of a "hungry dog" suggests the sea is relentless, driven by instinct and always consuming. The word "hungry" implies it is never satisfied, creating a sense of threat. The adjectives "giant and grey" reinforce this menacing image, with "grey" carrying connotations of bleakness and cold. The enjambment between the two lines mirrors the restless, continuous motion of the waves, as if the sea itself cannot be contained by a single line. The overall effect is to make the reader feel small and vulnerable against the power of nature.
Top Tips for the Exam
- Always embed your quotes into sentences rather than dropping them in on their own.
- Zoom in on individual words. Examiners reward close analysis of specific vocabulary choices.
- Consider the poet's intention. Why did they write this? What did they want the reader to think or feel?
- Compare poems when asked. Use connectives like "similarly," "in contrast," and "whereas."
- Leave time to re-read your answer. Check that every paragraph has a clear Point, Evidence and Explanation.
Practice Questions
- Choose any poem from your anthology and write a SMILE analysis covering all five areas.
- Write a PEE paragraph analysing the use of imagery in a poem you have studied.
- Pick two poems that share a common theme. Write a comparison paragraph using connectives.